Interns Rule!

June 10, 2009/Derek Beere

Interns are always a great asset to any work environment. I personally enjoy their enthusiasm, willingness to learn and ability to make a darn good coffee. Ok, everything but the latter. None of our interns make coffee here at Mason Onofrio. We teach them the skills they need to survive in the “real world”.

Our interns participate in client meetings, conference calls, brainstorms, and more. They do tons of research, contact the media and write press releases, media pitches, advisories and so on.

Our interns rock. Meet Stephen Murray, our summer intern who is a veteran here at M&O. He interned the summer of 2008 and he’s back for more action!

Q: Who are you and where do you go to school?

My name is Steve Murray and I am a senior at Elon University in North Carolina.

Q: For anyone enrolling in college, what advice would you give them?

Be careful what you post to social media sites. Someone (probably someone you don’t want) is always watching.

Q: What do you like most about public relations?

I enjoy the variety of work in public relations. On any given day, I could be asked to help respond to a client crisis, explore a new business opportunity, plan an event, or communicate client news to the media.

Q: You interned with us last summer. How would you explain your experience to someone who’s never heard of public relations?

I helped pitch client news to local and national media outlets, drafted releases for the news to be pitched, and conducted research to support the agency’s current clients and new business proposals.

Q: What did you learn?

A few things:

1) The myth that most reporters are mean and nasty people is just that, a myth.

2) With a range of clients, you need to be able to switch quickly from one to another throughout the day. Each client has its own specific needs.

3) Be open to critique. Your work will improve because of it.

Q: What do you dislike about public relations?

Along with just about everyone else in the PR business, my top gripe is with timesheets, though I recognize they are a necessary evil in the world of PR.

Q: Pepsi or Coke?

Whichever is on sale-I’m still in college!

Q: Any special talents we should know about?

I play both the saxophone and bass guitar.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

If you’re ever offered a free meal, take it.

Q: Lastly, where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?

Ideally, I’d like to be working somewhere as s senior executive with a public relations agency in the Northeast.